The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-01-27

playful protest on her lips she hurried for
ward to seek the shelter of the house.
CHAPTER Ill
To Kates surprise the lower part of the
house was deserted but there was an unusual
activity on the floor above, and the sound of
heavy steps, There were alien marks of
dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage,
and on the first step of the stairs a spot of
blood. With sudden genuine alarm that
drove her previous adventure from her mind,
she impatiently called her sisters name
There was hasty yet subdued rustic of
skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Eale, with
her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremo-
niously into the sitting room, closed the door
and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
She had crumpled paper in her hand.
"Dont be alarmed, but read that first" she
said, handing her sister the paper. ut was
brought just now"
Kate instantly recognized hss brothers dis.
tinct hand. She read hurriedly. "The coach
was robbed last night; nobody hurt. I've
lost nothing but days time. as this business
will keep me here until tomorrow, when
Manuel can join me with a fresh horse. No
cause for alarm. As the bearer goes out Of
his way to bring you this, see that he wants
| for nothing
"Well!' said Kate, expectantly.
swell, the bearer was fired upon by the
robbers, who were lurking on the ridge. He
was wounded in the leg. Luckily he was
! picked up by his friend, who was coming to
meet him. and brought here as the nearest
| place. He's upstairs in the spare bed in the
spare room, with his friend, who won't leave
his side. He won't even have mother in the
room. They've stopped the bleeding with
Johns ambulance things, and now, Kate,
here's chance for you to show the value Of
your education in the ambulance class. The
ball has got to be extracted Here's your op-
portunity"
Kate looked at her sister curiously. There
was faint pink flush on her pale cheeks, and
her eyes were gently sparkling She had
never seen her look SO pretty before.
"Why not have sent Manuel for a doctor at
oncew asked Kate,
aThe nearest doctor is fifteen miles away,
and Manuel is nowhere to be found. Per-
haps he's gone to look after the stock. There's
some talk of snow; imagine the absurdity
of itl'
"But who are theya"
1They speak of themselves as Friends as
if it were profession. The wounded one
was passenger, 1 suppose"
"But what are they hke7" continued Kate.
II suppose they're like them all"
Mrs. Hale shrugged her shoulders.
"The wounded one, when he's not fainting
away, is laughing. The other is creature
with mustache, and gloomy beyond ex-
preston"
"What are you going to do with them?"
said Kate
"What should doa Even without Johns
letter could not refuse the shelter of my
house to a wounded and helpless man.
shall keep him, of course, until John comes
Why, Kate, really believe you are SO pre-
judiced against these people you'd like to
turn them out. But forgetl It's because
you like them so well. Well, you need not
fear to expose yourself to the fascinations Of
the wounded Christy Minstrel-Im sure he's
that-or to the unspeakable one, who is shy
ness itself, and would not dare to raise his
eyes to you"
There was a timid, hesitating step in the
passage. 1t paused before the door. moved
away, returned, and finally asserted its in
tentions in the gentlest of taps.
"It's him; I'm sure of it," said Mrs. Hale,
with suppressed smile.
Kate threw open the door smartly, to The
extreme discontinue of tall, dark figure
that already had skunk away from it. For
all that he was a good looking enough fel-
low, with mustache as long and almost as
flexible as a ringlet. Kate could not help
noticing also that his hand, which was ner-
vously pulling the mustache, was white and
thin
"Excuse me-" he stammered, without rails
ing his eyes, II was looking for-for-the old
lady. II beg your pardon. l didn't know
that you-the young ladies-company-we
here. intended-I only wanted to say that
my friend" He stopped at the slight
, smile that passed quickly over Mrs. Hale's
mouth and his pale face reddened with ar
! angry flush.
II hope he is not worse" said Mrs. Hale
, with more than her usual languid gentle
, ness. "My mother is not here at present
, Can Lean aoe-this is my sister-do as wellf
| Without looking up he made constrained
: recognition of Kates presence, that, embar
3 rassed and curt as it was, had none of tn,
: awkwsrdness of rusticity.
4 "Thank you; you're very kind. But my
$ friend is a little stronger and il you can lent
7 me an extra horse I'll try to get him on tn,
j Summit tonight"
), "But you surely will not tallo him ava,
e from us SO soon?n said Mrs. Hale, with
@ languid look of alarm, in which Kate, how
n ever. detected certain real feeling "Wai
at least until my husband returns to-mor
e row."
q "He won't be here tomorrow said tn
d stranger hastily. He stopped, and as quickl,
Q corrected himself. "That is, his business i
= SO very uncertain, my friend says.v
|, Only Kate noticed the slip; but she notice,
o also that her sister was apparently uncon
p scious of it "You think, she said, 'tha
/ Mr.. Hale may be delayed!p
@ He turned upon her almost brusquey.
d mean that it is already showing up there;
j. he pointed through tho window to tho clou
d Kate had noticed; "if it comes down lowe
a in the pass the roads wili be blocked ur
r Thatis why it would be better for US to IL.
1T and get ON at once"
IT "But if Mr.. Hale is likely to be stopped b
1t snow SO are you," said Mrs Hale playfully